Justin and I are now located in Loveland, Colorado. The drive out had it highlights as well as our arrival.

We left right after having breakfast with Dave and Allyssa (spelling?) Saturday, July 30th. May I remind you that we were hauling a 6 x 12 ft Haulmark trailler behind us. Therefore, Justin felt most comfortable driving and having me as navigator/food/beverage supplier. I had a great time getting us to Loveland, without getting lost or dehighdrated. After Indianapolis we passed through Gas City. They have a huge water tower. And it’s James Dean’s hometown.

James Dean Museum

Live Fast Die Young

Well most bugs die young…

Man, the bugs are so big you can hear them smack the windshield even with the music playing…SMACK…you can see that big bug just kinda hanging out.

Justin stated after passing through Gas City. While I worked on making a basket out of blue yarn and rope. In addition I wrote:

    Prayer for a Haulmark Trailer

That we do not blow a tire as we did on our Maiden Voyage up to Higgins Lake in early June.
And that we arrive safely to Springfield, MO so we can hang out with Cup.
Amen

Big Cross with father and son

Then while driving through Effingham, IL along I-70 you can’t miss the BIGGEST CROSS ever. Also home of the Effingham Flaming Hearts. Who would name a high schools mascot the flaming hearts.

Flaming Hearts

I wonder who is going to win the Jonesburg Jaguars or the Effingham Flaming Hearts?

Justin and Cup at the Mud House

Hurray we made it to Springfield, MO to hang out with Cup. We had the opportunity to meet Cup’s girlfriend Crystal, and his awesome roommates. I had the opportunity to go to the Mud House. Apparently the best place to hang out and get some coffee or tea. One of the coffee drinks (the funky monkey?) has an entire banana blended into it. This reminded me immediately of the specialty drinks that were offered at the Grand Cafe downtown Farmington Hills, MI. A popular place to go while I was in high school. Go Marlins! Yes we were fish, but thats much better than being and heart on fire. Plus our school colors maroon and gold are Gryfindor colors, go Harry Potter!

Natalie at the Mud House

Right, so we left Springfield the next morning. Paid $2.75 in tolls to get through Kansas City. Now West through the entire state of Kansas. The only thing that makes K-70 (an 8 hour drive) across the state of Kansas worse is RAIN.

After seeing wet cows for about 175 miles:

It’s the Eisenhower Presidential Library!

Justin

You wanna go?

Natalie

NAH!!!

Justin

Right, so we kept driving through the rest of Kansas, in rain on and off. Once we entered Colorado it was as though a Heavenly Host of Angels greeted us, as sunshine and mountains became our new driving trend.

Justin Driving

Now as for driving around Denver, never take E-470. This was our BIG mistake. Every mile you get to pay $4, our total was $12 by the end of our 470 experience. Never again! The only problem is that the Denver Airport is on this road, so, we really have no choice. We will return to E-470 and donate money to the state of Colorado again. No problem!

We finally pulled into Loveland late Sunday night. We stayed at the Best Western Inn and Conference Center. We had the prevelege of becoming friends with Sean our bartender at the hotel, and his wife Jill who was hanging out for the slow Sunday evening. The couple just moved out about two years earlier from Southern California. They love Loveland. So, we met our 1st friends and Justin was able to sample a Dark Brew of Colorado.

The next day we signed our 6 month lease at Lincoln Place, Comcast gave us Internet, and we moved in. Well it’s not as easy as it sounds. We had to park our trailer on the side of the building. Enter a loading lobby area. Load up a freight elevator as it beeped at us continuously. Then unload it on the third floor. Then walk it all down the hallway about .05 miles to the door of our apartment. We love Lincoln Place. It’s just as nice as Rosewood, except it’s not in the middle of a field on the side of I-94 in Kalamazoo, MI. It’s in a downtown setting yet if the breeze picks up right before a storm you can smell cow manure. We love Loveland, mountains, little shops and cafes, fun restaurants, good entertainment, more art galleries than we know what to do with, and everyone we have met so far is really really super nice. It’s wild how nice everyone has been.

Loveland is lovely.